The largest indigenous mobilization in Brazil will be held between April 7 and 11 in Brasília (DF)
On the National Day of Struggle of Indigenous Peoples, February 7, the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) reveals the theme chosen for the Acampamento Terra Livre (ATL) 2025. “APIB is all of us: In defense of the Constitution and life” reinforces the commitment of more than 300 Indigenous Peoples to guarantee their rights provided for in the Federal Constitution, enacted in 1988. The theme also celebrates the unity and resistance of the indigenous movement represented by APIB, which, this year, completes 20 years of struggle and achievements.
The 21st edition of ATL, considered the largest indigenous mobilization in the country, will take place between April 7 and 11 in Brasília (DF). The location and schedule of the camp will be announced soon.
Dinamam Tuxá, executive coordinator of APIB, warns that fundamental indigenous rights — such as the demarcation of ancestral territories and the exclusive use of Indigenous Lands, all guaranteed by the Constitution — are under threat. According to him, this situation is a consequence of the constant attacks on Indigenous Peoples by public agents and the lobby of rural businessmen, which resulted in legislation and proposals such as the Indigenous Genocide Law (Law 14.701/23) and PEC 48, both related to the temporal framework thesis.
“It is necessary to demarcate and protect indigenous lands. We, Indigenous Peoples, have fought hard to ensure that the constitutional text is followed. To achieve this, it is important that indigenous rights are guaranteed and implemented, that institutions are respected and that the indigenous movement is heard. Only then will we have an even stronger Brazilian democracy!”, says Dinamam.
The Free Land Camp is organized by the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) and its seven regional grassroots organizations, namely: Apoinme, ArpinSudeste, ArpinSul, Aty Guasu, Conselho Terena, Coaib and Comissão Guarani Yvyrupa. Last year, the camp brought together around 9,000 indigenous people and more than 200 peoples in the federal capital, who debated and marched against the legislation known as the “Time limit trick” for five days. The legal thesis argues that Indigenous Peoples only have the right to demarcate their traditional lands if they were occupying these lands on October 5, 1988, the date of publication of the Federal Constitution of Brazil. disregarding the history of violence faced by Indigenous Peoples.
Read here the final mobilization letter.
The answer is us
For APIB, the 21st edition of the mobilization is also a strategic moment to discuss the “The Answer Is Us” campaign and indigenous participation in the Conference of the Parties (COP-30), which will take place in November in Belém (PA). Launched during the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the campaign highlights the need for decisive actions against the climate crisis, such as the end of the fossil fuel era, a fair energy transition and the recognition of the climate authority of Indigenous Peoples and their territories in protecting life on Earth. Check out the full indigenous call on the campaign’s official website: www.arespostasomosnos.org
On November 16, 2024, the Articulation held a peaceful demonstration in the capital of Rio de Janeiro to denounce the lack of action by the world’s richest and most polluting nations in confronting the global climate crisis. The images of leaders of rich and polluting countries – China, the United States, India, the European Union, Russia and Japan – were placed in the water, in front of Sugarloaf Mountain, to show that the climate crisis is also a crisis of leadership and values.
According to a study by APIB, Indigenous Lands under study or demarcated have a higher deforestation rate (0.2% per year) than those already regularized (0.05%). The data, part of the research “Demarcation is Mitigation”, reinforces the importance of demarcation in the fight against climate change. The study, conducted in partnership with IPAM and CIMC, was launched at COP-29, in Azerbaijan.